Hand paddle



Jan. 14, 1964 J. o. SHELTON 3,117,325

HAND PADDLE Filed Oct. 11, 1961 INVENTOR. Joseph 0. She/+0! Hffa me gs United States Patent 3,117,325 HAND PADBLE Joseph 0. Shelton, Birmingham, Ala, asslgnor to Plastics Continental, a partnership, Birmingham, Ala. Filed Oct. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 144,332 2 Claims. (Cl. 9-24) This invention relates to a hand paddle and more particularly to a hand paddle in which the hand of the user is inserted within an open end of the paddle whereby the hand and a portion of the arm adjacent thereto is confined within the paddle,

An object of my invention is to provide a hand paddle comprising an elongated hollow member having passageways through a side thereof for receiving the fingers and thumb of a hand whereby the fingers and thumb project outwardly of the hollow member.

Another object of my invention is to provide a hand paddle of the character designated in which the fingers and thumb of the user may be moved relative to each other outwardly of the paddle, thereby making it possible for the user to employ the same hand for other uses, such as holding a rod for casting, winding a reel, baiting a hook and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a hand paddle of the character designated which may be formed of a relatively light material, such as plastic, whereby a maximum surface is provided for engagement with the water while the weight of the paddle is reduced to a minimum.

A further object of my invention is to provide a hand paddle of the character designated which shall provide better actuating leverage than hand paddles which are gripped externally by the hand of the user.

A further object of my invention is to provide a hand paddle of the character designated which protects the hand of the user and at the same time enables the user to obtain a better grip of the paddle, thereby preventing the paddle from becoming separated from the hand of the user.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a hand paddle of the character designated which shall be simple of construction, economical of manufacture and one which is neat in appearance.

As is well known in the art to which my invention relates, various forms of hand paddles have been devised. However, so far as I am aware, the external portion of the paddle handle has been engaged by the hand of the user. Not only does this necessitate the user maintaining a firm grip on the handle at all times to prevent loss of the paddle, but also the user must remove his hand from the paddle when other duties are to be performed by the same hand.

Briefly, my improved hand paddle comprises an elongated hollow member having a handle portion adjacent one end thereof and a paddle portion at the other end thereof. The outer end of the handle portion is open for receiving a hand of the user whereby the hand is inserted inwardly of the hollow member. Passageways are provided through a side of the hollow member for receiving the fingers and thumb of a user whereby the fingers and thumb project outwardly of the hollow member and may be moved relative to each other while outwardly of the hollow member.

Hand paddles embodying features of my invention are shown on the accompanying drawing, forming a part oi this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing the side of my improved hand paddle which carries the passageways for receiving the fingers and thumb of the user;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view showing the opposite side of the paddle from that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmental sectional view taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional View showing a modified form of handle portion which may be employed;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, showing a modified form of hand paddle; and,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a modified form of my invention.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understand? irig of my invention, I show an elongated hollow member 19 which is formed of a suitable plastic-like material whereby the paddle is relatively rigid and will not bend as the paddle is moved through water. The elongated hollow member comprises a handle portion 11 and a paddle portion 12. The handle portion 11 is of a size to receive the hand and a substantial length of forearm of a user, indicated generally at 13. Suitable openings 14- may be provided in the handle portion 11 whereby air is free to circulate through the handle portion. However, where the paddle is employed during the winter, the openings 14 may be omitted entirely or the openings may be sealed by suitable means, such as tape or the like.

Laterally spaced openings 16 and 17 are provided in a side of the hollow member 1h, as clearly shown in FIG. 1, for receiving the thumb of a user, indicated at 18. The passageway 16 is adapted for receiving a thumb 18 when a left hand is inserted within the handle portion 11. When a right hand is inserted in the handle portion 11, the thumb projects outwardly through the opening or passageway 17.

Openings 19 are provided in the hollow member 10 in position to receive the fingers of the user, indicated at 21. The openings 19 for the fingers 21 and the openings 16 and 1'7 for the thumb 18 are provided with curved inner surfaces 22, as shown in FIG. 4-, and the passageways are of a sufiicient size to permit free movement of the fingers and thumb whereby the thumb and fingers are not injured as they move relative to the passageways. By providing openings which permit free movement of the thumb and fingers outwardly of the passageways, the user may use the same hand concomitantly for other duties, such as casting, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the paddle portion 12 of the elongated hollow member 10 is relatively flat whereby the paddle may be inserted within the water with a minimum of effort. The paddle portion 12 is also hollow, as shown at 23 in FIG. 3, thereby not only reducing the amount of material required to form the paddle, but also making the paddle light in weight.

To add strength and rigidity to the elongated hollow member 10, I provide a plurality of longitudinally extending recesses 24. Preferably, the longitudinally eX- tending recesses 24 extend well into the portion of the elongated hollow member 10 adjacent the openings 19 whereby that portion of the hollow member is strengthened.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved hand paddle shown in FIGS. 14 will be readily understood. The hand 13 of the user is inserted within the elongated hollow member, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 whereby the thumb and fingers project outwardly of the passageways therefor, as shown in FIG. 1. With the hand thus inserted within the elongated hollow member, the paddle may be moved through water in the usual manner. If desired, the hand 13 may be inserted within the handle portion 11 and the paddle actuated without actually inserting the thumb and lingers through the openings therefor. However, where it is desired to grasp articles positioned outwardly of the paddle, the thumb and fingers are projected through the openings, as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 5 of the drawing, I show a modified form of handle portion indicated at 11 The handle portion 11 is formed of a bendable material and an intermediate portion thereof is generally elliptical in shape, as viewed in transverse cross section. Accordingly, this elliptical portion of the handle portion 11 may be pressed to a generally cylindrical shape, as shown in dotted lines, whereby the hand and a portion of the arm adjacent thereto may be inserted within the handle portion. After the hand and arm have been inserted and the pressure released, the handle portion 11 resumes its original elliptical shape to grip the arm of the user whereby the handle portion 11 is held firmly in place. This construction is particularly adapted for use where the fingers and thumb remain within the confines of the hollow member it) and do not project outwardly of the openings therefor.

In FIG. 6 of the drawings, I show a still further modified form of my invention in which an elongated hollow member 10* is provided. The elongated member has a handle portion 11 and a paddle portion 12 Openings 16 and 17 are provided in the handle portion for receiving the thumb of a user, as described hereinabove. Also, openings 19 are provided in the handle portion 11 for receiving the fingers of a user whereby the fingers project outwardly of the hollow member 113. To reinforce the hollow member 10", longitudinally extending recesses 24 are provided therein, as described above. A plurality of perforations 14* are provided in the handle portion 11 for introducing ventilating air into the handle portion.

Instead of providing a hollow space within the paddle portion 12 of the elongated member 10 I completely fill the paddle portion 12 with a relatively light material 26 whereby no water can enter that portion of the hollow member 10 By employing a relatively light material which will not absorb water, the buoyancy of the paddle is increased greatly whereby it not only prevents the paddle from sinking, but may be employed as a life preserver.

In FIG. 7 I show the handle portion connected to the paddle portion by an intermediate portion 27 which completely seals olf the paddle portion from the handle portion. This is accomplished by bringing the sides of the intermediate portion 27 together, and securing them to each other, as shown, whereby a water-tight joint is provided between the handle portion and the paddle portion. Accordingly, water cannot enter the hollow paddle portion thereby assuring that the paddle will float at all times. To add strength to the intermediate portion 27, I provide a series of longitudinally extending ribs 28 along the intermediate portion, as shown.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved hand paddle which is simple of construction and which may be readily formed of light materials, such as plastic or the like, in a continuous manner. By providing a hollow handle portion for receiving a hand of a user, the hand is positioned within the confines of the handle member during the actuation of the paddle. Also, by providing passageways in the handle portion for receiving the thumb and fingers of a user, the thumb A and fingers are adapted to project outwardly of the paddle whereby they may grasp articles or be employed for other duties, such as winding a reel.

While I have shown the entire handle portion of the paddle as being generally cylindrical throughout the length thereof, it will be aparcnt that a portion of the handle portion may be out way or omitted adjacent the outer end thereof. That is an outermost portion of the side of the handle portion carrying the openings for the fingers and thumb may be cut away to permit free movement of the paddle relative to the arm, if desired.

Also, while I have shown the holes for receiving the fingers as being separated from each other and the openings for receiving the thumbs as being separated from each other, it will be apparent that the finger openings could be in the form of a continuous slot and the thumb openings could be in the form of a continuous slot.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A hand paddle comprising:

(a) an elongated hollow member having an elongated handle portion adjacent one end thereof and an elongated paddle portion adjacent the other end thereof,

(b) the outer end of said handle portion being open for receiving a hand and forearm whereby the hand and forearm are adapted to extend inwardly of the handle portion,

(0) there being passageways in said handle portion a substantial distance inwardly of the open end thereof in position to receive the fingers and thumb of a hand whereby said fingers and thumb project outwardly of said hollow member, and

(d) the length of said handle portion between said passageways and the open end thereof being sufficient to receive and surround a substantial portion of a forearm.

2. A hand paddle as defined in claim 1 in which the passageways for receiving the fingers and thumb are of a size to receive said fingers and thumb with a loose fit whereby the fingers and thumb may be moved relative to each other outwardly of said hollow member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 216,455 Primbs June 10, 1879 689,840 Jensen Dec. 24, 1901 1,185,411 Kennard May 30, 1.916 2,692,995 Le Bihan Nov. 2, 1954 2,711,547 Bliven June 28, 1955 2,716,246 Billingham Aug. 30, 1955 2,745,119 Whipple May 15, 1956 2,903,719 Wozencraft Sept. 15, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 528,934 France Aug. 29, 1921 D. 17,827 Germany Aug. 2, 1956 

1. A HANDLE PADDLE COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED HOLLOW MEMBER HAVING AN ELONGATED HANDLE PORTION ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF AND AN ELONGATED PADDLE PORTION ADJACENT AND OTHER END THEREOF, (B) THE OUTER END OF SAID HANDLE PORTION BEING OPEN FOR RECEIVING A HAND AND FOREARM WHEREBY THE HAND AND FOREARM ARE ADAPTED TO EXTEND INWARDLY OF THE HANDLE PORTION. (C) THERE BEEN PASSAGEWAYS IN SAID HANDLE PORTION A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE INWARDLY OF THE OPEN END THEREOF IN POSITION TO RECEIVE THE FINGERS AND THUMB OF A HAND WHEREBY SAID FINGERS AND THUMB PROJECT OUTWARDLY OF SAID HOLLOW MEMBER, AND (D) THE LENGTH OF SAID HANDLE PORTION BETWEEN SAID PASSAGEWAYS AND THE OPEN END THEREOF BEING SUFFICENT TO RECEIVE AND SURROUND A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF A FOREARM. 